Weight support and lifting device



y- 1953 J. P. ARNOLD 2,638,657

WEIGHT SUPPORT AND LIFTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 29, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W206 2'02 12;; f mold May 19, 1953 J. 1 ARNOLD 2,638,657

WEIGHT SUPPORT AND LIFTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 29, 1949 i 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a W W Patented May 19, 1953 UNITED; STATES. ion- CE WEIGHT SUPPORT AND meme nE vIc a Joy P. Arnold, 1 esl\ I oines, Iowa I i v Application December 29, 194i); Serial No. 135,657 1 11 Claims. d. .2 7; 2

My invention relates. to a weight. supporting and lifting device and is more particularly designed for use by morticians in the handling and moving of corpses while preparing .them for burial.

' 'After'a body hasbeenlreceivediby a mortuary itmust be moved and liftedmany times'before it has been prepared for interment'and placed in' the casket ready, for the:- administration of the last rites and the actual burial. During the process of embalming, cleaning, dressing and the many other tasks required in this respect the moving, lifting and handling is generally .done by physical labor and obviously-requires the. services of more than one person. .Th actual work,,however, in preparing the body can generally be performed by one person, except when lifting and moving is necessary. Often 'a good deal of time and effort is lost if this additional help. is not always-available at just the proper time. Also, in many smaller funeral establishments the added cost for this type of assistance is an important item. I

- It is therefore an'object of my invention to provide'a corpsesupporting and lifting device for use by morticians that can easily and operated by one person.

A further object of this invention is to provide a-supporting and lifting device of the above-class that is easily and quickly adjustable to accommodate bodies of different diameters.

A still'yfurther object of this device is to provide a: body lifting device for use by morticians than can be used to lift acorpse from a table, cot or the like and to lower it into a casket and'that after the body is restingtherein this device may be'easilyremov'ed without moving the body: In this. respect it isalso particularly designed to permit its removal without being hampered or restricted by the close confines of I the casket walls; r 9 Still another object of this invention is to provide a weight supporting and lifting device of the above classes that is easily movable to different locations within the roomin which it is installed. ..A still further object of this device is to provide a" corpse supporting and lifting means for use by morticians that may be mounted'on an overhead crane and thereby does not take up floor space in the room'where itis used. These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled irrthe art. g

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of thevarious parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth. pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig.,1is a perspective'view of thisdevicewith the dotted lines indicating a corpse bein supportedthereby 1 :10

quickly be Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. view of this de-'- vice .taken on the'line 2 -2 of Fig. i1-with a cut away portion at the top to more fully illustrate thexconstruction thereat and with the broken lineszin the lower part illustrating the-adjustabilityofthe lifting-arms, 1

..Fig. 3 is a side view of one pair of lifting arms of this. device showing one of the arms 'engaging a body, indicated by-dotted lines, with said arm secured to thelifting means and the other arm ofthe pair. detached from the lifting means and being maneuvered"into position under the body, and ,1. "Fig. 4 is a crosssectional'view of a-portion of a pair of lifting arms taken fromthe line 4- -4 ofFig.-2 i 1 Referring -to'the drawings I show my device mounted on an overhead traveling crane-No invention is claimed in this respect assuch cranes have long been-in 'use for-moving lifting devices carryingheavy weights; The two spaced parallel runways lll arepositioned overheadand may be secured in any suitable manner such as to the ceiling; 'll of a room or'on terminal supportsor the like. The crane preferably consists of {two parallel spaced beam members 12 disposed transversely to the runways-and, rollably mounted thereon."-Obviously, the longitudinal plane of the runways will 'bedetermined by'the particular locationso that the crane will be able to reach allplaces "where 'its' 'use will be needed. The numeral 13 designates" a plurality of V-shaped support brackets secured between and to the beams 12 in longitudinal spaced relation, as shown 'in'Fi'g. l. Preferably one such bracket l3 is at each end of thebeams t2 and the length of the beams will'determine the number of inter-. mediate brackets required;v The numeral I4, desighates 'a horizontal elongated rotatable shaft member supported by the brackets [3 in any suitable manner such as the bearing members 15 secured-to each of thejbrackets, as shown in Fig, 1". one end of the shaft I4 communicates with a gear box l6 which provides the means for rotating the shaft when the crank handle I! is manue ally operated.' The gear box'is mounted at one end" offthe j-crane structure in any, suitable manner.

On'theshaft I4 I have secured a plurality of spool members l8 disposed in longitudinal spaced relation, 'as"shown in Fig. 1 The fn'umeral i9 designates: a plurality of flexible strapmembers, respectively, detachably secured ,to and wound about'each of the "spools I8. On the free'end of each strap l9 thereis secured a metal ring member' 21. Obviously, the direction of rotation of the shaft [4 willcausethe straps 19 to wind or unwind thereon arid thb ear box it j will maintain the shaft at any position Where its rotation is 'sto'pp'ed. l f

The lifting arms which are used with the above structure are the novel elements in this invention and I will now describe them. The numeral 2p designates a pair of eqniplementary like elongated bar members each having its respective end portions 2'! and 22 bent at substantially a right angle and in the same direction. The bar portion intermediate the bend points on each bar is curved outwardly so that when the ibars are disposed as shown in Fig. 1 they provide a stirrup-like appearance. Thus arranged the bottom end portions 22 of the arms 20 willprpe vide a supporting surface for a Weight and the outwardly bulging sides are designed to =c'onf'orm generally to the curvature of a corpse for which this :device is adapted.

Each (f the :upper endiportions 2 :of'the arms 2-0 is provided with an'elongated slot23 eommunieates "with the free =end thereof, :as :shovm in Fig. =4. The numeral 24 designates a horizon.- tal support bar member having-an iupwandly ex? tending -.centrally gpositioned hook member 125. 'glhje ten end portions 42 of each arm 2!) are de-.- tachably laterally :slidably se ured to the under, si e at he bar :24 by any ,SI-IitQ bIe' means such e be t and'w ns uts 6 as-shown in Fi w il-, Fi as lu trat d F .4 this is 'd ne'by passing the bolt 26 through end holes (not b wm the ba 5 th slots 3. n this W the arms are ateral y extendabie as shown by the broken lines in Fig. 2 and may be seeme in any extended in sitipn by the win mi .Zfi-

In, elee iee devi e has several-ad anis esi edre as i ewthree airep l ke limes a ms a ranged so i t e w ight er e y 1 est be e enl g Med and a anced E h Pa r of armsea i be uellv \peeit ened beu 'a befi thou b r n to m ve e -bcdv so ha end-pe son can e sil ever-a this de 'i e 'Tll-m% e ene s wo. qitferen Fer sma e besi th i e x nd d as 32., ens erilo s at be e fhe b and thee memiay Pushed ow rd each other to the des red eos ie With the w ne nets 5 t n iehieees t e w l su per-. the weight and will net :slip.

hou d the eddy-b terse, ho ev r, 0r anarr w e e i eit e er beta-9i h a ms -9 ea be quickly detached from the bar -24, as shown in Fla Be d manua ly an uv e i t e i n wi ou '1 v e to mov or l ft the od Qnee t e lower arm eril-ens 22 are il e e he ente nd so t e- 1$ 12! an wed as -r ev e sly se j ribesi- I rel ase lie arms '2 he -P o ess i eeur ne eed- W nabMvhasb v..ee in ea sk th de aeh h s *Q' the elite .0 is ci y use i a s on th b d i of eurs within ps ies cf the as et and havin ee dressed and prepared for the last rites at which i wi l he v e -ed b former nd d amily the "leis i i, i distu bed. th l w and im is rip-ddirerl to"prop'erly adjust it. Consequently, eite the hot res n in a d u p ted-by thecas'lget it is iililicult to release the arms by spreading then; laterall because of the closeness of the side walls. However, with this devic it s, nl net ss ry ie de thear s om he su p'q t "ba and manua l ro a a a m h ilhe ba te s e d e n l u ir munder the beer a m ni whe tee 'be erti ally lifted 'out'wi't'hout disturbing the body (gr-casket lining many Wei-i:

I have shown this device mounted on an overhead traveling crane and the advantage in this is that-it can easily be moved about where needed, ,ailwaysaavailable andyettloes not occupy floor space. This is often an important consideration when mortuaries are crowded for space. Howutwardly;

ever, it is pointed out that this device could also be mounted on a supporting structur that itself is mounted on wheels and movable about on the floor.

fiame ichangesmay be made in the construction and arrangement of my weight support and lifting device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention toacover :by my claims, any modified forms of structure Lor use of mechanical equiva, lents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. :a weight supporting and lifting device iior use by morticians in the handling of corpses, a lifting :arm comprising, a :pair of complementary zlike .cbar members each having its respective endgpnrtions bent .at an angle and in the same direction and substantially parallel to each other; :said bar members disposed opposite each other to provide a stirrupelike appearance, aslot provided in the upper bent portion of each of said :bar members, :a bar; each of said first .mentioned Hoar members-detachabl-ysecured bymeans of saidslots to .said bar and :said 'bar secured to a :means :by which it can be raised andlowered.

2. In a weight-supporting and lifting device ior use ib'y morticians in the handling of corpses, a lifting arm comprising, a pair of complementar y ilike bar members :each having its respective end portions bent at an angle and in the same direction andsubstantially parallel to each other and with the bar portions intermediate said bend peints curved outwardly; said bar members disposed opposite each other to provide a stirrup.- like appearance, an elons'ated .slot provided in theupper bent portionrofeach ;bar member; each of :said slots communicating with the free end of its respective bar imen iber,v a bar, each -:of said first mentioned zbar, "members detachably .slidably secured by means of said respective slots to said bar and-said bar secured to a means by which it anbe aised-and-lowered.

In -:a weight supporting and lifting device tor use by morticians in the handlingof corpses, alifitingarm coinprising, a pair of complementary, e bar memberseach having its respective end portions :bent at an :angle and the same direction and parallel to each other; said iibar members disposed opposite each :other to provide as rrup lik appearance with the :bentend portie sfo ins the bottom of saidliftingzarmhavinc their fr e endsaclosely adiacentto each other wh r by they are dapted to extend under'substantially all of the-corpse to be lifted, a slot provided in the upper bent portion of each of said bar members, a bar; eachof said first mentioned bar members detachablysecured-by means 65 of said slots to said bar and said bar secured to a means by which it can be raised'and lowered.

4. Inca weight supporting and lifting device fo use by .morticians .in the handling of 1 corpses, be m-c m r sing; pai c m mentary like vlia .rnembers each .having its respective end portions bent at an angle and in the same direction a d lel t Bah Qth8r=and with :the bar pertion intermediate said bend :points curved said bar members disposed opposite each other to provide a stirrup-likezappearance with the bent end portions forming the bottom of said lifting arm having their free ends closely adjacent to each other whereby they are adapted to extend under substantially all of the corpse to be lifted, an elongated slot provided in the upper bent portion of each bar member; each of said slots communicating with the free end of its respective bar member, a bar, each of said first mentioned bar members detachably slidably secured by means of said slots to said bar and said bar secured to a means by which it can be raised and lowered.

5. In a weight supporting and lifting device for use by morticians in the handling of corpses, a lifting arm comprising, a pair of complementary like bar members each having its respective end portions bent at an angle and in the same direction and parallel to each other; said bar members disposed opposite each other to provide a stirruplike appearance with the bent end portions forming the bottom of said lifting arm having their free ends closely adjacent to each other whereby they are adapted to extend under substantially all of the corpse to be lifted, a slot provided in the upper bent portion of each of said bar members,

each of said first mentioned bar members detachably secured by means of said slots to a means by which it can be raised and lowered.

6. In a weight Supporting and lifting device for use by morticians in the handling of corpses, a lifting arm comprising, a pair of complementary like bar members each having its respective end portions bent at an angle and in the same direction and parallel to each other; said bar members disposed opposite each other to provide a stirrup-like appearance with the bent end portions forming the bottom of said lifting arm having their free ends closely adjacent to each other whereby they are adapted to extend under substantially all of the corpse to be lifted, a slot provided in the upper bent portion of each of said bar members, each of said bar members detachably secured by means of said slots to a means by which it can be raised and lowered, each bar member being individually and separately movable toward or away from the other bar member, and selectively removable from and rotatable on the means by which it is raised and lowered.

7. In a weight supporting and lifting device for use by morticians in the handling of corpses, a lifting arm comprising, a pair of complementary like bar members each having its respective end portions bent at an angle and in the same direction and parallel to each other and with the bar portions intermediate said bend points curved outwardly; said bar members disposed opposite each other to provide a stirrup-like appearance adapted to conform to the curvature of the corpse to be lifted with the bent end portions forming the bottom of said lifting arm having their free ends closely adjacent to each other whereby they extend under substantially all of the corpse, a slot provided in the upper bent portion of each of said bar members, a third bar member, each of said first mentioned bar members detachably secured by means of said slots to said third bar member, each of said first mentioned bar members being individually and separately movable toward or away from the other bar member, and selectively removable from and rotatable on said third bar member.

8. In a weight lifting and supporting device, an overhead support member, a retractable lifting means on said support member, an improved grappling member operably associated with said lifting means, characterized by a pair of complementary like bar members each having its respective end portions bent at an angle and in the same direction and parallel to each other; said bar members disposed opposite each other to provide a stirrup-like appearance, a slot provided in the upper bent portion of each of said bar members; each of said bar members detachably secured by means of said slots to said lifting means.

9. In a weight lifting and supporting device, an overhead support member, a lifting means depending from said support member, a bar member detachably secured to the free end of said lifting means, a lifting arm comprising, a pair of complementary like bar members each having its respective end portions bent at an angle and in the same direction and parallel to each other;

said second mentioned bar members disposed opposite each other to provide a stirrup-like appearance, a slot provided in the upper bent portion of each of said second mentioned bar'members, each of said second mentioned bar members detachably laterally slidably secured by means of said slots to said first bar member.

10. In a device of the class described, a horizontal bar member designed to be supported by suitable means, a curved arm bar member having its respective end portions bent at an angle in the same direction and parallel to each other, a slot in the upper bent portion of said curved arm bar member having its upper end portion slidably mounted by means of said slot to one end portion of said horizontal bar member, and a second curved arm bar member of like construction as the first having its upper end portion similarly slidably mounted to the other end portion of said horizontal bar member so that the upper and lower free end portions of the respective curved bar members are oppositely disposed.

11. In a device of the class described, a horizontal bar member designed to be supported by suitable means, a curved arm bar member having it respective end portions bent at an angle in the same direction and parallel to each other, a slot in the upper bent portion of said curved arm bar member having its upper end portion slidably and rotatably mounted by means of said slot to one end portion of said horizontal bar member, and a second curved arm bar member of like construction as the first having its upper end portion similarly slidably and rotatably mounted to the other end portion of said horizontal bar member so that the upper and lower free end portions of the respective curved bar members are oppositely disposed.

JOY P. ARNOLD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 508,866 Butcher Nov. 14, 1893 832,51! Wilt Oct. 2, 1906 1,116,272 Haselton Nov. 3, 1914 1,148,068 Allen July 27, 1915 1,819,390 Seagar Aug. 8, 1931 2,510,596 Murphy June 6, 1950 2,574,131 Steinbrecher Nov. 6, 1951 

